Nutrition Guidelines to Relieve Your Allergy Symptoms
If you’ve landed on this page you likely fit in one of two categories; either you’re fed up with the cocktail of medications prescribed for your allergy symptoms or you’ve been recently diagnosed and are researching your options. Either way you’re on the right page. Allergy sufferers who want alternative solutions to treat their symptoms are finding success by changing how they eat and adding select supplements to their diet.
To better understand how nutrition can reduce your symptoms let’s take a closer look at what an allergy is and what is actually occurring inside the body. The term allergy is a broad term that is often used to describe a specific reaction in the body, i.e. a foreign substance (allergen) is identified in the bloodstream and the immune system reacts by making antibodies or releasing chemicals known as histamines leading to an inflammatory reaction.
Inside the Immune System during an Allergic Reaction
Your immune system is the first line of defense to harmful substances and is made up of several cellular components that work perfectly together to combat foreign antibodies. To fully understand the human immune system would take years of study and research but we can certainly begin to look at what researchers have discovered as it relates to allergies and your body’s immune response.
When a foreign substance is recognized the immune system kicks in and develops necessary antibodies to destroy it. There are five types of antibodies, each with their own line of attack. These include: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM. These antibodies often team up with the body’s complement system, Mast cells (cells containing histamine) and basophils to develop an effective line of defense. The significance for allergic reactions lies with the IgE antibody and Mast cells.
The IgE antibody attaches to the outside of Mast cells. When an allergen comes into contact with this antibody and cell combo the Mast cell is activated and releases histamines or enzymes into the bloodstream to deactivate the allergen. The result of the released histamine is inflammation either locally or systemically (entire body).
During an allergy attack the body’s natural defenses release several chemicals. In contrast these chemicals each of their own primary function from widening capillaries, increasing blood flow, and stimulating inflammation.
With all these chemicals floating around the blood stream it becomes easy to understand the varying degrees of symptoms and the severity of them. Equally you can begin to recognize how appropriate foods and nutritional supplements can both aid your immune system’s function and reduce allergy symptoms.
Food That Help Fight Allergy Symptoms
There are a whole range of foods that when added to the diet can help alleviate the symptoms of allergies and reduce the allergic reaction in the future. By incorporating foods that help lesson inflammatory chemicals in your body or that make your immune system become less responsive to allergens you’ll be on your way to naturally reduce your symptoms.
Some of the crucial nutrients your body needs to combat allergies include Omega-3, flavonoid, magnesium and a balance of good and bad bacteria. Now let’s break down these nutrients a little further.
- Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce the formation of inflammatory chemicals and in affect make your symptoms less severe. Sources for Omega-3 include salmon, mackerel, anchovies, herring, sardines, flaxseed oil and walnut oil
- Flavonoids can diminish inflammation that causes sinus congestion and pain and act as natural anti-inflammatory agents. Certain flavonoids such as garlic and red onions have even been found to have anti-asthmatic properties similar to those found in certain asthma medications. Good sources of flavonoids include apples, red onions, garlic, bananas and tea.
- Magnesium has been proven to help relax lung muscles and improve lung function. In fact one study revealed that children who were given 300mg of magnesium daily became more resistant to asthmatic triggers (allergens are major triggers) and able to decrease medications by 40%. Magnesium rich foods include sunflower seeds, tofu, artichokes, spinach, swiss chard and black eyed peas.
- Having the right balance of good and bad bacteria minimizes the risk of a hypersensitive immune system. Yogurt is an excellent way to restore balance and keep your immune system stress free. In fact researchers from the University of CA reported consuming 1 cup of yogurt a day can reduce allergy symptoms by 10%.
To thoroughly use your diet to manage allergy symptoms there are several foods you’ll want to avoid as well. Milk and cheese actually thicken mucous making sinus congestion worse. For those with nasal symptoms these foods should be limited.
Fatty meats and processed foods contain bad fats that actually encourage your body to release inflammatory chemicals. Additionally Omega-6 fatty acids tend to intensify inflammation and immune response. Sources of Omega-6 include vegetable oils, corn and mayonnaise.
Add A Little Extra With Nutrient Support Programs
Nutrient support programs are products designed to provide base nutrients, in a compatible mixture, to alleviate allergy symptoms and prevent further allergic reactions from occurring. There are many excellent nutrient support programs on the market, although choosing the right one to act as your nutrient supplement can be difficult. It is of vital importance that the correct type of supplement is taken, and that the product is specifically designed to provide nutrient support factors for allergies. Below we discuss some of the more common nutrient support programs available.
- Controlled Response – This is a healthy blend of 12 entirely natural ingredients, which include green tea extract and quercitin. A good general purpose nutrient supplement of great benefit to allergy sufferers.
- Life Lite Essential – Made mainly from blackcurrant seed oil, this nutrient supplement is designed to provide a range of essential fatty acids. Dose is varied depending upon the severity of the allergic reaction taking place.
- Magnum C – This is a vitamin C based supplement, which provides ample Ester C, an improved form of vitamin C. Manufactured from will lettuce leaves, black walnut and burdock root, this is a useful vitamin C supplement for everyone not just allergy sufferers.
- Probiotic Complex – This is an aid to the digestive process, which helps to supply enzymes that help produce digestive proteins. Probiotic Complex is of great use to allergy sufferers and is also used to help alleviate lactose intolerance and dermatitis. Dose can vary depending upon how extreme the allergy is.
- Aller-ease – This is a traditional herbal formula, with a great taste. It is fast working and has been used successfully to treat not only allergies, but inflammation as well. Aller-ease is made from bitter orange, Chinese kudzu, panax ginseg, ginger and Chinese blackberry. It specific helps by boosting the body’s natural healing energy.
Additional nutritional supplements that can help
There are several multi-supplement products, which although not designed specifically to treat allergies and their symptoms, can be of immense benefit to allergy sufferers for other reasons. These make a great secondary supplement to take alongside a nutrient support program designed specifically for allergies. Below we will take a look at some of the most common:
- Nutri Cleanse – This is an entirely natural colon cleanser. Even the healthiest of diets will not help if the colon is clogged. Regular usage of Nutri Cleanse will help to keep your colon in top condition.
- Power Enzyme Complex – This is a complex compound which contains many vital nutrients. It provides enzymes to replace those that may have been killed off by eating cooked or processed foods. As well as helping allergy sufferers it can be used to treat heartburn, hypoglycaemia and other digestive problems.
- Alpha Greens – A natural alkalize which is made from alfalfa leaf powder, barley grass juice and wheat grass juice. This is a general detoxification supplement, which helps to keep a balance between acid and alkaline in the body.
Diet, eating habits and the overall levels of nutrition the body receives, can have a direct bearing upon the severity of allergic reactions and the body’s susceptibility to allergens in general. By planning a healthy diet, and selecting the correct nutrient supplements, most allergy sufferers should see a change for the better with regards to their symptoms.
Cautionary note:
If you are allergic to, or suspect a potential food allergy of any kind, please consult your doctor before trying any nutritional remedies as they may trigger your food allergy and be counterproductive.
About the Author:
Mikki Hogan is a long term allergy sufferer of more than 23 years, so when her children developed severe allergy symptoms she was in familiar territory. Her experiences as an allergy sufferer and parent of a child with allergies and asthma has not only given her a solid knowledge base but also a passion for eliminating allergy symptoms safely and effectively. This passion flows throughout her writing and is evident in her new book Your Complete Guide to Allergy Relief. Watch this informative video to hear her story.
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